Burke, 38, a co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records, which launched the career of the superstar rapper Jay-Z, admitted his guilt before U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain in Manhattan.

Burke pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, in connection with his participation in a massive pot trafficking ring. As a result of the plea, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced May 18.

Under his plea agreement, Burke is also required to forfeit $660,000, his residence, $15,000 in cash that was seized from his home when he was arrested last year, and his 2010 BMW.

Burke was among more than 50 people who were arrested in late 2010 for their alleged membership in three separate but interconnected marijuana trafficking cells that distributed drugs from South Florida to New York. Leaders of the cells depended on each other, and on the same transportation network, to supply customers in New Jersey and New York, authorities said.

The 18-month investigation, dubbed “Operation Green Venom,” was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations directorate and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from police agencies in New Jersey, New York, Florida, Maryland and North Carolina.

Burke, 38, a co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records, which launched the career of the superstar rapper Jay-Z, admitted his guilt before U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain in Manhattan.

Burke pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, in connection with his participation in a massive pot trafficking ring. As a result of the plea, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced May 18.

Under his plea agreement, Burke is also required to forfeit $660,000, his residence, $15,000 in cash that was seized from his home when he was arrested last year, and his 2010 BMW.

Burke was among more than 50 people who were arrested in late 2010 for their alleged membership in three separate but interconnected marijuana trafficking cells that distributed drugs from South Florida to New York. Leaders of the cells depended on each other, and on the same transportation network, to supply customers in New Jersey and New York, authorities said.

The 18-month investigation, dubbed “Operation Green Venom,” was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations directorate and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from police agencies in New Jersey, New York, Florida, Maryland and North Carolina.